Apply for Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Student Employment
Follow These Steps
Whether you are a new student or a continuing student, you will need to apply for financial aid before we can determine your eligibility. In order to maximize your chances of receiving financial aid, you must apply as early and make sure to submit additional requests for documentation as quickly as possible.
Step1: FILE/RENEW the FAFSA (SCHOOL CODE: 011462)
Completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is free and quick, and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for your classes at UAA. In addition, the State of Alaska and UAA both use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for state and institutional financial aid programs. Some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether a student qualifies for aid. Don't forget... this application must be filed EVERY year! UAA's Priority FAFSA Deadline is July 15th, however we recommend filing as soon as the new application opens on October 1st each year. Apply Now...
-
Which FAFSA should I file?
Important Note: There are two (2) academic year FAFSA applications available at any given time and it is important to fill out the correct one for the semester you hope to receive financial aid. An academic year begins with the Fall semester in August, Spring semester in January, and ends with the Summer semester in May.
Which FAFSA should I file?
Academic Year Attending during one of these semesters Submit this FAFSA FAFSA will use this Tax Year information 2020-2021 Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021 2020-2021 FAFSA 2018 2021-2022 Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022 2021-2022 2019
Step 2: COMPLETE THESE STEPS AFTER FILING THE FAFSA
Completing a FAFSA every year as early as it opens (Oct. 1st) is critical. UAA takes it from there! Students new to the University of Alaska are provided with an award offer as early as December, and continuing students who are enrolled in classes will receive their award offer in May, once the spring semester ends. Make sure to visit each action below to verify that there is nothing preventing you from being eligible for aid.
- How Do I Find Out if I'm Eligible for Aid?
After submitting the FAFSA you may also be asked to verify additional information or turn in missing documentation. The Office of Financial Aid will contact you with the necessary information you may need to provide. If your FAFSA file contains incomplete or inaccurate information or you make changes to your application, you may experience processing delays.
- Check to See if You've Been Awarded
You are responsible for monitoring your Financial Aid status, therefore it is important that you do the following things:
- Check your UAOnline "Financial Aid" tab frequently.
- If you are required to submit additional documentation to our office, we encourage you do so as soon as possible, to prevent delay in awarding. Some forms will be submitted from within the UAOnline portal, whereas others identify how to deliver it on the form itself.
- UAOnline will allow you to view overall status, holds, academic progress, cost of attendance, financial aid offers, and messages.
-
Check for notifications on your UAA student email account. The Office of Financial Aid communicates with students primarily through either UAA student email accounts and/or *UAOnline-preferred email accounts.
* If the student designates a preferred email address on the "Personal Information" tab of UAOnline, all further financial aid messages will be sent to this account.
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Award
- Select Award by Aid Year
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Select Award Overview
- View Your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Status
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Financial Aid Status
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Review your overall financial aid status. Your Academic Progress (SAP) status will be listed
Students who wish to file a SAP Appeal, should refer to "Student Responsibilities - Satisfactory Academic Progress"
- Eligible SAP Statuses: "Eligible", "Warning", "125 Warning", and "Probation"
- Ineligible SAP Status: "Ineligible", "Exceeds Timeframe -IN150", and "Did Not Fulfill Academic Plan - DNFAP"
- Review Holds and Missing Documents
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select ‘Financial Aid Status’
- Select the the appropriate Academic Year. Spring 2021 is part of “2020-2021”
- Select ‘Student Requirements’
- Complete any requested forms. Most have a link to an online form, such as the ‘Verification Form’
- You may be asked to attach a copy of a federal IRS Tax Return Transcript for you, and your parents if you are a dependent student. Make sure to request the tax year listed on your UAOnline. If you answer the IRS’s security questions correctly, you will be able to download a copy of the transcripts, which can be attached to the Verification form you complete within UAOnline. If you're unable to download a copy, you may need to request it by mail.
What does "Verification" mean and how can I complete it quickly?
Verification is the process used to confirm the accuracy of the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA).
If a student is selected for verification, he/she must submit certain information. This may include:
- Household size
- Number of household members in college
- Taxable and non-taxable income
- Asset information
- Other data elements reported on the FAFSA
Students whose FAFSA is selected for verification are required to submit a Verification Worksheet and federal tax transcripts — if they did not use the IRS data retrieval tool when completing their FAFSA. Depending on the verification group they are assigned and other information reported on their FAFSA, we may require students to submit additional documentation. Students selected for verification will be notified through email and UAOnline as to what documentation is required. Financial Aid awards cannot be generated or disbursed until verification is complete. Students that are not initially selected for verification may be selected after they make changes to their FAFSA. If this happens, any financial aid previously awarded will be canceled until the verification process is complete. There is no guarantee that the equivalent types and amount of financial aid will be available when you are repackaged.
Is there a deadline to turn in required documents?
UAA's PRIORITY DEADLINE is July 15th.You may still turn in documents after July 15th, but we cannot guarantee they will be processed before the payment deadline*
For priority processing and to ensure awards will be packaged before the payment deadline, students must submit all pertinent verification documents prior to July 1 of the academic year in which they are applying. The deadline to submit completed verification documents is 30 days from the last date of enrollment, or the last business day in August — whichever comes first. The deadline for all Financial Aid eligibility for a specific academic year is also the last day of August.
Failure to submit all required documents will cause processing delays. Not only will it delay all disbursements of federal aid but it will also prevent disbursement of several types of state and institutional aid. Lastly, Students are required to put their UAA ID number on each page of all documents submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.
Notification:
Once students submit all the required documentation, they can track the status of their verification through UAOnline. If a verification resulted in making changes to a student's FAFSA, the student will receive an email from the Central Processing Unit at the Department of Education with a new Student Aid Report and his/her verified EFC. Once their verification has been processed, students will receive an email within 7 business days notifying them to check UAOnline to view and accept their award offer.
- Accept or Decline Offered Awards
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Award
- Select Award by Aid Year
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Select Accept Award Offer
- Accepting Federal Direct Student Loans requires an additional step (listed below)
Note: Pell Grant and other scholarships or grants, are automatically accepted on behalf of the student. This money is free to eligible students who enroll in and continue to actively participate in required courses. Ceasing attendance before the class ends could result in a student having to return money.
- Complete Steps to Receive Federal Student and/or Parent Loan Applications
First-time undergraduate and graduate borrowers of federal student loans must complete the following tasks at: StudentAid.gov. Select either the"Undergraduate Students", "Graduate/Professional Students", or "Parent Borrowers" tab and follow the list of steps to apply:
- Entrance Loan Counseling: Students who have not previously received a subsidized/unsubsidized loan or PLUS loan for graduate/professional students under the Direct Loan Program are required to complete the online tutorial to ensure that they understand the responsibilities and obligations assumed when borrowing a loan. The entire counseling process must be completed in a single session. Most people complete counseling in 20-30 minutes.
- Master Promissory Note (MPN): The MPN is an official, legal document in which the borrower agrees to terms, conditions, and repayment requirements for a federal student loan(s) also known as a "Loan Agreement". Once the MPN is completed, this agreement will also be applied to subsequent Federal Student Loans borrowed in the next 10 years. The MPN is only required to be completed once unless a student borrows again 10 years later. Most people complete it in 20-30 minutes. Contact information for two references is required.
- Federal PARENT PLUS Loan Borrowers: Parents of dependent students who elect to take out a federal loan on behalf of a UAA student have several steps to complete in the process.
Visit Studentaid.gov and select the "Parent Borrowers" tab:
- Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)
- Complete a Parent PLUS Loan Request Form*, available on the UAA Financial Aid Forms page
*If the parent-applicant's credit score is approved by the federal processor, the funds will be applied to the student's UAA account and will be used to pay any outstanding tuition, housing or other qualified charges. This form also allows the parent to inform UAA how to disburse any remaining loan credit balance, resulting from the PLUS loan deposit.*If the parent-applicant's credit score is not approved, the dependent student may speak to a UAA Financial Aid Advisor about gaining additional loan eligibility in the current academic year.
- Check to See if You've Been Awarded
- READ ABOUT Scholarships Available for Use at UAA
There are a variety of UAA, University of Alaska, and State of Alaska grants and scholarships available to our students. Some scholarships require an application, some are automatically awarded once eligibility conditions are met after submitting your first application for admission, and some you qualify for by completing specific requirements before graduating from an Alaska high school. Below are a list of scholarships you may see on your UAOnline>Financial Aid Overview screen. IMPORTANT REMINDER: Many of these programs require recipients to meet specific conditions if they are multi-year awards.
- UAA CARES Act - Student Relief Fund - Application Required
The University of Alaska Anchorage has begun awarding the student portion of CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $2.7 million dollars.* These awards are to help with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. UAA’s plan was established to assist students with the greatest need, in accordance with federal guidelines, while ensuring there were adequate funds available for those students who did not meet the initial grant selection group criteria.
Awards have been broken into two separate categories: "UAA Student Emergency Grant" and the "UAA Student Emergency Fund". UAA released all of the "Emergency Grant" funds, $1,972,500 to 2,467 students in the Spring 2020 semester. Students who may need assistance through the "UAA Student Emergency Fund" are encouraged to apply until funds have been exhausted. Please review the eligibility conditions by visiting the link provided.
- National Merit Scholars - Contact UAA
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and university scholarships administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). To be eligible for National Merit Scholarships, you must take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of your junior year – if completing high school in four years – and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, among other requirements. You also have to get a top score on the test.
TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FROM UAA:
- Submit a copy of your National Merit Letter to UAA Honors College
- Contact the UAA Financial Aid Office
- Meet General Student Eligibility Responsibilities
- Enroll in classes required to complete your degree program
- UAA Administration Scholarship - Application Required
UAA Administration Scholarships are awarded by many different departments and programs throughout the University. Please contact the department for which you would like to be considered and request additional information.
Common rules to be eligible for the UAA Administration Scholarship include:
- Be admitted into a degree or certificate program at UAA
- Be in an ELIGIBLE Satisfactory Academic Progress status
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 for a graduate program, 2.8 for school and college awards for undergraduate students and 2.5 for administrative department awards for undergraduate students
UAA Administration Scholarships are limited to Cost of Attendance. Students who receive other combinations of grants or scholarships equal to, or in excess of, their Cost of Attendance will not be eligible for UAA Administration Scholarships.The Office of Financial Aid has limited UAA Administration Scholarships available on a first-come, first-served basis for students experiencing financial hardship. To be considered, complete the UAA Administration Scholarship Request Form available on the UAA Financial Aid Forms page. While UAA encourages students to explore other options before using student loans, there is not adequate administrative scholarship money to fund all students. For this purpose, not wishing to incur loan debt is not considered a financial hardship. - UAA Foundation Scholarships - Application Required
Apply Every Year Between October 1st and February 15th
Students NEW to UAA do not need to fill out the scholarship application to be considered for an award but you can still submit one in order to compete with continuing students for an award. Information collected during the application for admission process will be used to make awards from this group. Completing your FAFSA in October each year will increase your chances of being selected for an award in the upcoming academic year.- To apply for scholarships at UAA, submit the UA General Application from the UA Scholarship Portal between October 1st and February 15th to be considered for scholarships in the upcoming academic year.
- Example: To apply for UAA Scholarships for Fall 2021 or Spring 2022, submit the UAOnline Scholarship Application by February 15, 2021.
- To increase the likelihood of receiving a scholarship, submit the FAFSA for the same academic year. The 2021-2022 FAFSA will also open October 1st.
- Previous year application answers and essays are deleted in September so it is wise to save a copy outside of the portal.
- Some scholarships accept applications all year long. File your scholarship application even if the deadline has passed.
- Instructions to use the UA Scholarship Portal
Sign into the UA Scholarship Portal with your UA username and password.
- Complete the General Application and the system will sync with your imported, university-stored data, like degree program, major, and GPA. Auto-matching technology "pushes" your application to be reviewed for scholarship opportunities if you meet eligibility qualifications.
- The system will ALSO provide you with a list of "Other Recommended" scholarships, unique to your imported data and answers you provided on the general application. These "other opportunities" require you to answer additional questions and/or provide subject-matter specific essays. Any additional requested essays or references must also be submitted in the portal by February 15th. For those scholarships that require a "reference letter", you must send an automated invitation from within the portal to your sponsors. The sponsor will access the secure portal to provide reference content. It is critical that you use your UA faculty reference's UA email address. To look this up, use the UA Directory Search tool.
- After you complete the applications, you're done! If you are awarded a scholarship you will receive an award email to your UAOnline "preferred" email address. You can also check on the status of your application by signing back into the scholarship portal at any time.
- Follow up! The system also includes information on private and external scholarships. These deadlines change often so check back under "External" opportunities.
- Your completed General Application will be archived and removed from the system in August. You must complete a new General Application EVERY YEAR. If "Financial Need" is a requirement, you must also file a FAFSA between October 1st and February 15th. The deadline to apply for most scholarships is February 15th but late applications may be considered if additional funds become available.
- Help Writing Essays
- We strongly recommend applicants attend one of our UAA Scholarship Workshops, visible on the UAA Student Calendar and on the Savvy Seawolf page, as we will be discussing the various scoring rubrics review committees across campus use to select recipients. Handouts will be provided in order to help you understand what standard may be used to measure the clarity of profile question responses.
- Use a word processing program to write and save essays in the event technology issues
occur while you are typing. (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, OpenOffice, etc.) and then
copy-and-paste the content into the browser when you are finished. By composing your
essay this way, not only will you be able to easily check your spelling and grammar,
but the character-count of each response as well.
The "Submit" and the "Save & Keep Editing" buttons at the bottom of the online application will save your responses. You can keep editing your application as many times as you wish until February 15th at midnight to be considered for the following academic year (ex: apply before February 15th, 2021 to be considered for the 2021/2022 academic year). - Answer profile questions in essay form and limit the use of special characters and/or providing numbered/bulleted lists of information.
- Bring together important experiences from your past and present them with your future plans and goals in order to communicate the moral of your story: "I deserve/need this scholarship."
- Like a story, the readers have not met the main character (you), so you have to summarize the important points of your story in a short space, and avoid non-essential details. Think of it as describing who you are today while at UAA, what experiences helped create this version of yourself, and what you've learned along the way.
- Be genuine. In most cases, trying to impress the committee will result in a lower over-all score in comparison to a flawed but genuine essay.
- It is also important to be unique. Good stories are in some way unpredictable and memorable. Depending on factors like your degree program, you may be considered alongside many other applicants, so separating yourself as a unique candidate greatly increases your chances.
- Telling us your struggles is important, but explaining how you have overcome them is even more important. Confidence is one of your greatest keys to a successful essay.
- Show that you have seriously thought about your plan for the future, even if you are uncertain about some aspects of it. Some of the highest scoring essays (briefly) outline that you've thought of backup and alternate plans.
- Generic statements don’t reveal why you are unique. Use detailed, vivid descriptions to produce distinct mental images of your story. Here are some examples to illustrate this point:
Essay #1: Tell us about your educational and career goals. What are your plans and time frame for meeting your goals?
Clearly articulate the alignment between educational and career goals including reasonable time frame for accomplishing them. The committee will be evaluating the clarity, not the sophistication, of your essays. Don't treat your education and career goals as two separate things, but show their "alignment" and how they connect to each other. Finally, demonstrate your responsibility and foresight by providing details and evidence that your time frame is "reasonable." The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate your ability to make reasonable plans, and that you have thought seriously about them.Essay #2: Tell us about your activities outside of the classroom.
Include activities of high involvement and compelling evidence that extracurricular activities (work, sports, volunteer work, family, etc.) have shaped their character and academic development. This question gives a variety of possible extracurricular activities to consider, but this does not mean you need to cram all of them into one essay. In fact, we recommend that you stick to a few of the possible extracurricular activities that relate most directly to your goals and plans.
Essay #3: Tell us anything else that you would like the scholarship selection committees to consider when evaluating you as a scholarship candidate.
Construct a clear and exceptional [read "unique"] case, includes appropriate examples for deserving or needing a scholarship, and describes the impact that a scholarship would have on goals. Do not leave this essay blank! This essay is the place for you to fill in the context for your need for or reason why you are a great candidate to receive a scholarship. Again, it is very important to relate whatever extra information you give in this essay back to your goals and plans. - UAA Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions
- Do incoming, first-time freshmen need to apply using the UA Scholarship Portal?Incoming, first-time freshmen *DO NOT NEED to apply for freshmen-only UAA scholarships using the UA Scholarship Portal. UAA selection committees will use information provided on the submitted Application for Admission, and additional details such as high school GPA, ACT/SAT test scores, and the FAFSA to make award decisions. Eligibility conditions may change based on the size of the applicant pool. This is a first-come, first-served award and most decisions will be made in February for the upcoming academic year. *If you are being recruited by a specific department or college within UAA and they instruct you to fill out the application or submit additional materials to be considered for a special scholarship, follow all instructions they provide.
*Incoming freshmen MAY fill out the general application within the UA Scholarship portal once they have a UA Username/Password. It can take up to 2 business days for a student to be assigned a login username/password. Since UAA does not use the UA Scholarship portal to select "incoming-freshmen" scholarship recipients, no exceptions will be made if you are not able to gain access to the portal before the February 15th deadline. It is critical to apply for admission BEFORE February to guarantee that you will have enough time to successfully complete the scholarship application in order to be considered for an award from the University of Alaska (UA) Statewide Office and other campuses within UA. - How do I apply for UAA Scholarships?
Visit the UA Scholarship Portal for a full list of available scholarships given to UAA students by a large community of donors.
Get started on your scholarship search now. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
- Sign into the UA Scholarship Portal with your UA username and password..
- Complete the General Application and any supplemental applications presented. The system syncs with your data. You are automatically matched with scholarship opportunities for which you meet the criteria and the system provides additional “recommended” scholarships that may be available to you.
- After you complete the application and submit supplemental required items, you’re done! If you are awarded a scholarship you will receive an award email to your UA email address. You can also check on the status of your application by logging back into the scholarship portal at any time.
- If awarded a scholarship, please take time to look in the portal for the "Thank You Questionnaire" your answers will be shared with donors. This is a tremendous opportunity to explain how these funds will make a difference in your academic choices and ensure that donors feel valued for their contributions to UAA.
- How long can I continue to edit my UAOnline Scholarship Profile Essays?Remember, you can still make changes to your scholarship profile essays in the portal until 11:59 PM on Feb. 15th, even if you have already submitted it. As you pursue educational goals, reshaping your application will increase your chances of receiving scholarships that fit what you are currently studying.
- Do I need to reapply every year?Yes, all applications in the UA Scholarship Portal are deleted every September in preparation for the new October 1st opening. You should always save copies of any essays in your personal computer or cloud environment if you plan to reuse them.
- Why should I complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used for two things:
- The FAFSA provides biographical information that may be used to help identify eligible applicants for some scholarships.
- Some scholarships require that students demonstrate "financial need" to receive an award. "Financial need" is measured by the difference between annual college expenses and the potential amount that your family can afford to contribute. Please don't skip applying for "need based" scholarships, just because you and your family don't qualify for "financial need." Lacking federally-defined "financial need" does not mean you are ineligible for scholarships at UAA.
- The FAFSA must also be submitted by February 15th in order for financial need to be determined for UAA Scholarships.
- Where do I find Non-UAA Scholarships that I can use while attending UAA?UAA has taken the time to create a Private Scholarships webpage to help you locate scholarships from non-UAA donors. We do our best to make sure each posting is legitimate, however criminals seeking to mine your personal data are using advanced skills to hide their true intent. Before reviewing our "Private Scholarships" page, please visit our "Avoiding Scholarships Scams" resource page. Any suspicious website links on our UAA Private Scholarships page should be reported to UAA IT Services.
Another option to search for non-UAA scholarships is through private-company scholarship search engines that allow you to search by keyword. We've compiled a list of known companies on our "Scholarship Search Engines" resource page.
- Do incoming, first-time freshmen need to apply using the UA Scholarship Portal?
- 49th Finisher's Scholarship - No Application other than Admit & FAFSA
- The University of Alaska set aside money to help students with some college in finishing
a 4-year degree. The 49th Finishers Scholarship is built to assist those who are returning
to college after taking some time off. To gain eligibility for this scholarship you
must fulfill all eligibility requirements, complete the application for admission
by July 15th for a Fall 2020 start and complete the FAFSA. Once eligibility is confirmed,
students will be notified by email and the award will appear in UAOnline on the Financial
Aid>Award Overview tab.
To be eligible for the 49th Finishers Scholarship you must meet the following criteria: - Have earned some college credit but no bachelor’s degree*
- Be taking 6 credits or more
- Have completed the FAFSA by the UAA Priority Deadline of July 15th (but earlier is better)
- Be an Alaska resident
- Current satisfactory academic progress must show an "eligible to receive aid" status
*If you are a returning UAA student, you must have a minimum two-year break from enrollment to be eligible. To read eligibility conditions and important deadlines, please refer to the 49th Finisher's Scholarship website.
- The University of Alaska set aside money to help students with some college in finishing
a 4-year degree. The 49th Finishers Scholarship is built to assist those who are returning
to college after taking some time off. To gain eligibility for this scholarship you
must fulfill all eligibility requirements, complete the application for admission
by July 15th for a Fall 2020 start and complete the FAFSA. Once eligibility is confirmed,
students will be notified by email and the award will appear in UAOnline on the Financial
Aid>Award Overview tab.
- UAA Recruitment Scholarship - No Application other than Admit & FAFSA
The UAA Recruitment Scholarship is open to Incoming, first-time freshmen. UAA administration will use information provided on the submitted Application for Admission, and additional details such as high school GPA, ACT/SAT test scores, and the completed FAFSA to make award decisions. Eligibility conditions may change based on the size of the applicant pool. This is a first-come, first-served award and most decisions will be made by between December and February for the upcoming academic year. If additional funds become available as students decline or do not attend, new pools of students who applied after February 15th may be considered.
- Have submitted a UAA application for admission into a degree or certificate program, and be officially admitted before the Fall semester ends.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for those students who took UA classes during high school.
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5
UAA Recruitment Scholarships are limited to Cost of Attendance. Students who receive other combinations of grants or scholarships equal to, or in excess of, their Cost of Attendance will not be eligible. - UAA Seawolves Opportunity Scholarship - No Application other than Admit & FAFSA
The UAA Seawolf Opportunities Scholarship is open to first-generation, first-time freshmen. UAA administration will use information provided on the submitted Application for Admission, and additional details such as high school GPA, ACT/SAT test scores, and the completed FAFSA to make award decisions. This is a multi-year $2000 award and most decisions will be made by between December and February for the upcoming academic year. If additional funds become available as students decline or do not attend, new pools of students who applied after February 15th may be considered.
- Have submitted a UAA application for admission into a degree or certificate program, and be officially admitted before the Fall semester ends.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for those students who took UA classes during high school.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 their freshman year, and 2.5 in years 2 through 4.
- Enroll full-time (12 credits) during the Fall and Spring semesters
- Be an Alaska Resident and U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
- Have an expected family contribution (EFC) less than or equal to 20% higher than the max EFC needed to receive any Federal Pell Grant during the time of initial award. In future years, the recipient must continue to demonstrate financial need based on their EFC and cost of attendance (COA).
- Recipients must continuously enroll in every Fall/Spring semester, no leave of absence semesters are permitted, except in summer.
- UAA Completion Grant - No Application other than Admit & FAFSA
The purpose of the University of Alaska Completion Grant is to provide financial assistance for eligible students who wish to complete their degree more quickly. This program is contingent upon available funds. Students may not receive an award every year.
To be eligible for this grant, the student must*:
- Be in good academic standing and meet SAP requirements
- Be admitted into a degree-seeking program
- Be an Alaska Resident per UA guidelines
- Enroll in at least 12 financial-aid-eligible credits per semester
- Have completed at least 30 credits during the preceding academic year
- Have a valid FAFSA with an Expected Family Contribution of $10,000 or less.
*A small allocation of UA Completion Grant funding may be used for programs with differing eligibility criteria. These students will be notified of these eligibility exceptions directly.
- UAA Workforce Advancement / UAA Incentive Grant - No Application other than Admit
& FAFSA
Funds for this program are in limited supply and were provided by the State of Alaska to support enrollment initiatives. UAA is using these funds to support Occupational Endorsement Certificates (FAST TRACK career certificates).
For the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 terms: Applicants are eligible for renewable awards in the amount of $500 for part-time enrollment (6-11 credits) and $1000 for full-time enrollment (12+ credits). To be eligible, a student must be admitted, enroll in one of the certificate programs and complete at least 67% of Fall 2020 courses while maintaining a 2.0 GPA.
- UA Scholars Program - Initial Eligibility Determined During High SchoolThe UA Scholars program offers a merit-based scholarship that students qualify for based on their class ranking in high school. The purpose of the UA Scholars Award is to provide an incentive for Alaska's middle and high school students to achieve academic excellence, to nourish efforts of schools to provide high quality education, and to encourage the top high school graduates from every community in Alaska to attend the University of Alaska.
Eligibility for the UA Scholars Award is based on academic standing at the end of the high school, junior year. Each eligible high school in Alaska is responsible for notifying the UA Scholars Program about the students who qualify for the UA Scholars Award through a "Designation Process" which takes place from May 1 - October 1 each year. The program office then notifies eligible students what action to take before May 1st of their senior year in high school. It is a $12,000 scholarship to any of the 15 University of Alaska campuses. With over 500 degree and certificate programs to choose from you are likely to find a program that will help you meet your career goals.
- For initial and continuing eligibility criteria, award information, and more, visit the UA Scholars Program website.
- For new or current UA Scholars, review the "UA Credit Milestones chart" available on the program website to help you determine how to remain in program compliance.
- Alaska Performance Scholarship - Initial Eligibility Determined in High School
APS is a scholarship offered by the State of Alaska, and UAA is one of the eligible Alaska institutions qualified to participate. To earn this award, Alaska high school graduates must have completed specific courses and achieved required national test scores before they graduated. To review your eligibility and award amounts for State of Alaska programs, such as the Alaska Performance Scholarship and the Alaska Education Grant, please create an account and login to Alaska's myAlaska – ACPE Student Aid Portal as these awards will not be reflected on your UAA award letter, until we receive notice from the State in mid-August. Continuing students must meet specific completion benchmarks and file a FAFSA by June 30th priority deadline in order to receive an award in the upcoming academic year. For more information, including eligibility criteria visit UAA's Alaska Performance Scholarship information page.
- U.S. Armed Forces ROTC Programs Available at UAA
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit rather than financial need:
-
Army ROTC scholarships are offered at more than 1,000 colleges. For application packets, information about eligibility, and the telephone number of an ROTC advisor in your area, call 1-888-550-ARMY (1-888-550-2769) or visit the Army ROTC web page.
-
The Air Force ROTC college scholarship program targets students pursuing certain foreign language and technical degrees, although students entering a wide variety of majors may be accepted. For more information, call 1-866-4-AFROTC (1-866-423-7682) or visit the Air Force ROTC Scholarship web page.
-
The Navy ROTC offers both four-year and partial scholarships. To learn more, call 1-800-NAV-ROTC (1-800-628-7682) or visit the Navy ROTC website.
-
The Navy ROTC Marine Option Scholarship helps you pay your way through college at approved Navy ROTC schools. Learn more about the Navy ROTC Marine Option Scholarship.
UAA ROTC PROGRAM LINKS
-
- UAA CARES Act - Student Relief Fund - Application Required
- APPLY for a Student Employment Job at one of our UAA Campuses
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers students a wide range of employment opportunities to earn money, in locations convenient to class. On-campus jobs allow students to serve UAA and our community campuses while also developing relevant skills and building their resume. Whether you are looking for pre-professional work or simply funds to help pay for tuition, UAA is a dynamic place to work with job opportunities to match any interest.
Creative Advantages of Having an On-Campus Job
UAA offers many student employment opportunities to its students. Some students even find a way to earn relevant career experience by matching their degree program with on-campus student jobs.- Are you interested in marketing and sales? Perhaps a job in the UAA Bookstore is for you?
- Thinking about becoming an IT manager? Working in an IT Customer Support position in the UAA Information Technology Services would be a great way to gain experience.
- Interested in living in dorms? Consider applying for a Residence Life position. This dynamic group has multiple positions and offers fun and engaging training, as well as in-depth diversity and inclusion exercises. Some positions even offer a cost discount on room and meal plan charges.
To be eligible for student employment at UAA, students must be:
- Registered in six or more UA credits
- Be scheduled to work no more than 20 hours a week during the semester as a UAA student employee
- International students should check with the International Student Advisor to confirm visa eligibility.
- Step 1: Apply for a JobGo to the University of Alaska Human Resources "Careers at UA" website and select "Explore Jobs at UA" from the top menu.
Use the filtering technology in the site to refine your search for Student Employee positions and by campus or location. At any time you can create an account login, which will allow you to upload a completed UA employment application and resume, along with optional items like cover letter or letters of recommendation, etc
Select those positions you would like to apply for and connection your uploaded materials.
For help with setting up an account, writing a resume, or developing interview and professional clothing recommendations, contact the UAA Career Exploration & Services Office. - Step 2: Be Hired in a PositionTo be hired for most positions you will have to complete an interview. The contact information you provide in your online application will be used by departments to arrange and interview. You will be able to check the status of submitted applications and easily apply for new posted positions without too much extra work.
If you are hired in a position, earnings from student employment will never disburse to your student account to cover tuition/fee charges. Payment occurs via an external Human Resources process as you work and earn wages. - Federal Work-study Program - How Is It Different?
By completing the FAFSA, some students may be eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program. FWS is a part-time employment program designed to help undergraduate and graduate students gain priority attention among other student applicants because the federal government pays a portion of your wages, so your hire would be less expensive for the department. Your eligibility for the program is determined as part of your application for financial aid. FWS is not required to be a student-employee at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Fast Facts
- Federal Work Study is a program that allows college students to work at their university in exchange for Federal Work Study Funds.
- Half of the money a student worker is paid comes from the program, and the other half
comes from the university.
Federal Work Study is available to students who show financial need and indicate interest in programs other than grants when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). - Federal Work Study funding is a limited pot of money provided to UAA. Students should submit their FAFSA and apply for student employment early to increase their chance of receiving funding.
- Federal Work Study student employees are only permitted to up to 20 hours a week when school is in session, so that university employment does not interfere with academic studies. You must always check with your supervisor before working extra hours.
- Please be aware - earnings from student employment funded by Federal Work Study will never disburse to your student account to cover tuition/fee charges. Payment occurs via an external Human Resources process as you work and earn wages.
- CONTACT US if you have "Special Financial Circumstances" or cannot provide parental
information on the FAFSA
The federal government allows UAA Financial Aid to consider situations that may effect your ability to either file the FAFSA or to report financial information. Three types of "special circumstances" are allowed to be considered under the FAFSA guidance Learn More About APPEALS & EXCEPTIONS...
- Income overrides - If you or your family have experienced unforeseen financial changes due to job loss, income reduction, asset value reduction, illness, etc... or you are facing increased educational expenses that affect your ability to fund your degree,
- Requests for Dependency Override - A student who is unable to maintain contact with the parent who would normally be required to fill out the FAFSA with the dependent student.
- Cost of Attendance/Budget Adjustment - Certain costs not included in the standard "cost of attendance" estimate, such as childcare, course-related equipment, additional credit load, or a one-time computer purchase are permitted to be considered.
- REQUEST Summer Financial Aid
If you are attending classes during the summer semester, financial aid may be available to help you cover your costs. Often students will exhaust their full amount of federal or state financial aid during the Fall and Spring semesters, so it's important to plan ahead if you are considering taking summer classes.
LEARN HOW TO REQUEST YOUR REMAINING AID FOR USE IN SUMMER
- SEARCH for Private Scholarships
Some students need additional help to cover the cost of their college expenses and search for private scholarships online. Before you begin this process, please review the helpful information we've provided below.
TIPS TO AVOID SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS:
You may be solicited by mail, email, or phone by malicious entities claiming to be scholarship service companies. These entities are often attempting to gain access to personal information such as social security numbers or bank numbers. It has become increasingly more difficult to separate the legitimate offers from those that are seeking to mine valuable data from students. Below are some links to websites that can help you differentiate authentic scholarship service companies and phishing scams.
The most important things to remember are that:
- You should never give out your personal information without verifying the security of the data.
- You should never pay an entity offering any financial aid (including scholarships) even if funding is "promised." All applications from reputable entities will be free.
Visit Federal Student Aid's comprehensive resource on how to avoid STUDENT AID SCAMS and how to report when you suspect your information has been compromised.
- "FREE" AND "FEE" SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SERVICESBoth "free" and "fee" search services available
*Note: Some search engines sell email addresses for commercial purposes. To avoid an influx of spam email, consider setting up a dedicated email address when searching for private scholarships.
Alaska Career Information System aims to teach students the steps in the financial aid process and creates a personalized list of scholarships, grants, and loans for each student.
Cappex is a free online college and scholarship resource for high school and college students. They maintain an extensive scholarship database to help students cover the costs of their tuition.
College Board locates scholarships, loans, internships, and other financial aid programs from non-college sources that match your education level, talents, and background.
Education Corner provides information on scholarships, grants and fellowships including current articles
FASTWEB provides access to over 1.5 million scholarships. This free service allows you to scholarship match by targeted goals, like: strengths, skills, interests, religion, gender, etc. You can also search by "Scholarship Deadline" which is especially handy when you're looking for last minute scholarships.
Finaid Scholarships provides information regarding the Federal Financial Aid programs available on this site.
Nursing Explorer is a searchable scholarship database specifically for nursing students.
Sallie Mae's Scholarship Search Tool provides access to an award database that contains more than 3 million scholarships worth over $16 billion, and is expanded and updated daily.
Scholarships for specific majors locates scholarship sources for majors such as art, biology, computer science, engineering, journalism, and nursing. - ALASKA AND NATIONAL PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Some local and national private scholarship sources are included below for you to consider. Deadlines vary so please follow the link for more information and details on how to apply.
Alaska-Specific Scholarships
National Scholarships
The University of Alaska Anchorage is no longer posting scholarship advertisements for entities/organizations not affiliated with the University of Alaska unless we have worked directly with them in the past.
Service-Related Scholarships
Miscellaneous Scholarships